Episode 30: Formed Families Forward | Foster, adoptive, and kinship families are not alone
In this moving, deeply human episode of the We’re Good Podcast, presented in partnership with the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, we step inside a conversation that many families are living—but too few are talking about. Recorded on location in Fairfax, Virginia, this episode centers on Formed Families Forward, a nonprofit born out of love, struggle, and an unshakable belief that no family should have to navigate foster care, adoption, or kinship caregiving alone.
Host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee sits down with founder and Executive Director Kelly Henderson, Deputy Director Stacia Stribling, and board member Dr. Monique Lilakos—three remarkable women whose professional credentials are impressive, but whose lived experiences are what truly anchor this conversation. Each is a foster, adoptive, or kinship parent. Each knows firsthand what it means to love a child shaped by difficult past experiences. And each speaks honestly about the isolation, advocacy battles, and quiet courage required to keep going.
What unfolds is not just an explanation of services—it’s a story of community. Listeners hear how Formed Families Forward grew from a small group of overwhelmed parents into an organization now reaching more than 4,000 individuals each year. They talk candidly about special education challenges, misdiagnosis, trauma-informed care, and why “resources” alone aren’t enough without relationships.
One of the most powerful moments comes with the announcement of a new statewide Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Resource Hub—created with funding from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia so families no longer have to search endlessly, alone, for answers that should be accessible and compassionate.
At its heart, this episode is about walking alongside families for the long journey—not just the crisis moment, but the years that follow. It’s about redefining family, honoring resilience, and building connection where loneliness once lived.
If you’ve ever loved a child with complex needs—or know someone who does—this episode will stay with you long after it ends. Listen fully. Share it freely. And remember: community changes everything.
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Formed Families Forward website
